Ambiance

Tupelo Honey offers a modern twist on southern home cooking set in a down- home, friendly environment. Artistic colorful cows hang on the walls watching over the guests in the dining room. The bar area skews more hipster East Nashville than one might expect in a strip center in Cool Springs. Tupelo also boasts an amazing patio with ample seating and bright umbrellas to block the sun when needed. Think modern southern ambiance, where smiles and biscuits abound, without anything hokey or predictable in sight. Lunchtime brings out business-folk from surrounding office spaces en masse, so get there early.

What to eat

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The huge stack of Challah French Toast makes for a decadent lunch.(Photo: Melonee Hurt for The Tennessean)

Tupelo offers both a lunch and brunch menu full of made-from-scratch Southern fare ranging from Blueberry Challah French Toast ($15) to Tupelo Shrimp and Grits ($22). Leave your My Fitness Pal app at home when you dine at Tupelo and just enjoy their creative spin on traditional southern dishes -- as well as a few new ones. Although the menu does offer some salad selections such as the Wicked Chicken Cobb ($17) which is lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, hard-boiled egg, cheese and avocado topped with Tupelo’s signature wicked chicken; or the Tupelo Signature Salad ($11) with kale, watermelon, radish and quinoa, I say opt for the more indulgent options.

You might as well start it off right with some of the best Crispy Brussels Sprouts ($6) I’ve ever tasted. Not a fan of the little mini cabbage balls? Then hit the Fried Green Tomatoes ($10). Your server will also bring you a round of house-made biscuits with blueberry jam. I might have put a few in my purse for later and asked for another round. Don’t judge.

For your lunch entrée, it’s really a matter of deciding how far you want to go. You can tiptoe along the lines of bending the diet rules slightly or jumping in with both feet. In the mood for a burger? Give the Fried Pickle and Pimento Burger ($13) a try. I mean, fried pickles on a burger with pimento cheese? Why not? If you are not planning to eat again for a while, jump in and go for the Buttermilk Fried Chicken ($14). With that comes two sides. Again, are we thinking a Mixed Greens Salad and Goat Cheese Grits or are we thinking Baked Mac N Cheese and Pork Belly Collards?

What to drink

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Tupelo’s bar area offers an eclectic vibe as well as high-top seating along a wall of windows.(Photo: Melonee Hurt for The Tennessean)

It wouldn’t be Southern fare without some Sweet Tea ($3 with free refills). Another fun choice is the signature house-made drinks including Rosemary-Peach Lemonade, Sparkling Blueberry Punch or Lavender-Limeade Fizz ($3.75) If you are able to indulge at lunch, Tupelo has some of the best house-made Sangria ($9) I’ve ever had. It gets its fizz from a splash of ginger beer. It’s the perfect accoutrement to a stack of French toast.